Improvement in invalid-chairs



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THOMAS ARMSTRONG, OF SANDWIOH, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN INVALID-CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,868, dated July 15,1873; application filed June 14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS ARMSTRONG,

' of the city of Sandwich, in the county of De Kalb and State ofIllinois, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Invalid-(Jhairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description of the construction and operation of the same,reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon. T

' back effects a change of inclination in the seat and foot-rest, as itis most agreeable to the invalid, thereby accomplishing the object of myinvention-viz., the speedy and perfect accommodation of the invalid inevery position desired.

In the drawings, A represents a square or oblong frame supported on fourlegs. A seat, consisting of two levers, B, and a crosstie, O, isattached by hinges b to the centers of the rails 00 of the frame A. Tothe ends of the levers or bars B above the hinges b, the back, composedof the bars D, the crosstie E, and the headboard F, is attached by thehinges d.

The foot-rest, composed of the bars G and the foot-board H, is attachedto the above-described seat by hinges G. The back is supported byswinging racks or ratchet-arms I pivoted to the bars D by a cross-rod,J, and sustained by the ratchet-teeth z and pins 13 on the frame A.

The back, as described, is otherwise connected with the seat by twoelevatinglevers, K, on which the arms B rest with the aid of the pins1), and which are, at the other side of their fulcrums 70. on the frameA, operated by elongations D fastened to the bars D. There is also aconnection between the extreme ends of the seat and the foot-rest ef-When the back is elevated the teeth 6 of the ratchet-arm I slide overthe pins '5, the elongations D of the bars D move down with their lowerends, and thereby depress the rear ends of the levers K and elevatetheir front ends, thereby elevating the seat. The connecting-rods K arethereby moved upward,

which causes the connecting-rods L to move back and swing the foot-restdown.

The invalid in this case is enabled to sit up in a reclined position,with his back and legs almost parallel, which is the most proper andconvenient mode of sitting.

If the invalid wishes to lie down the ratchet-arms I are disengaged fromthe pins i, and the back is let down, thereby moving the connecting-rodsK down and the connecting-rods L forward. At the same time the ends ofthe elongations D move up and the levers K, following up the said motionwith their rear parts, move down in front, thereby lowering the seat andbringing the foot-rest, the seat, and the back on a level with eachother.

For practical use the described invalidchair is prepared by stretchingcanvas or some other strong cloth across the bars D, B, and G to afforda yielding support for the in valid.

The most prominent features of my improved invalid-chair are these, thatit only has one fixed connection on each side of the frame, which iseffected by the hinges b, and that the said connections are made in theplace where the center of gravity of the supported person is mostly tobe found in a v'ertical direction above.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure of the bars D B G, the hingesd g, the conby Letters Patent, is necting-rods K L, and thesupporting-arms 1. In an adjustable chair the combination 0, constructedand arranged substantially as of the frame A, the bars D and B with thespecified.

hinges d and I), the elongations D, the levers THOMAS ARMSTRONG. K, andthe pins b, constructed and arranged Witnesses: substantially asspecified. -W. W. SEDGWIGK,

2. In an adjustable chair, the combination J. D. NEGUs.

